"Werner Herzog, one of the most important figures in German and international cinema, achieved recognition with his very first feature-length film Signs of Life," Locarno organizers said in a statement.

The director, known for his love-hate relationship with Klaus Kinski, also directed such films as Fitzcarraldo and Nosferatu the Vampyre (Nosferatu: Phantom der Nacht, 1979).

Locarno artistic director Carlo Chatrian said the filmmaker "embodies the spirit of the festival so well: over the course of his long career, Herzog has proved adept at moving between fiction and documentary, low-budget productions and films featuring major stars, but without ever losing a clear sense of identity."